David Arnay

David Arnay began his career in Ithaca, New York, where he first attended college during the late ‘70s. He became involved in that enlightened upstate town’s vibrant music community, eventually recruited into the popular and eclectic Zobo Funn Band featuring guitar wizard David Torn. After moving to the L.A. area Arnay dove into the local scene, meeting and collaborating with A-list jazz players including guitarist Phil Upchurch, saxophonist Bob Sheppard, and drummer Peter Erskine.

A significant mentor during Arnay’s early L.A. years was tenor saxophonist and former Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock sideman Bennie Maupin, who brought David into a quintet which included Alphonso Johnson on bass… “an amazing band and an inspirational experience” that included development of David’s work as a composer. Their collaboration continues with a June 2017 performance at the Arroyo Seco Weekend festival. With encouragement from Maupin, Arnay finished his bachelor’s degree at CalState L.A., and went on to earn his master’s in jazz studies at USC. He joined the USC faculty in 1999 and continues to teach there as a full time lecturer.

With three CDs released (link below) and a busy performance schedule that includes a solo shift each Wednesday at Arroyo Chop House and a piano/bass duo every Friday at Parkway Grill, David’s musical contributions to the community continue.

Trevor Ware is well recognized as one of the most supportive jazz bassists in Los Angeles. His style, reminiscent of Paul Chambers, Sam Jones and Charles Mingus, focuses not only on producing a supportive bass tone with impeccable intonation, but also features long, creative, well developed bass lines. One of the most in-demand bassists in Los Angeles, Ware is regularly featured with a number of bands, but most often forms strong bonds with drummers. Developing his love for music at The World Stage Performance Gallery, Ware had the opportunity to hone the craft of swing under the tutelage of master drummer Billy Higgins (still the most recorded jazz drummer in history). After being offered his first professional gig by legendary pianist and composer Horace Tapscott & New York saxophonist Sonny Fortune, Ware developed as sense of musical adventure playing in Tapscott’s quartet and Pan Afrikan People’s Arkestra. Ware later developed a strong bond with drummers Tootie Heath, Alphonse Mouzon, Clayton Cameron and Sherman Ferguson, appearing on Ferguson’s release “Welcome to my Vision” and Cameron’s CD “Here’s to the Messengers”. Having appeared on over 30 recordings, Ware’s current musical associations include Kenny Burrell, Molly Ringwald & The Count Basie Orchestra.